University of Texas McCombs 2016-17 MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines

McCombs combines its rigor with a passionate community. To create its desired community, it seeks a student body that is diverse in every dimension and comprises individuals who can bring their varied voices to form a cohesive group. The questions below reflect this value; they draw out applicants’ individuality, motivations, and ability to collaborate, while also addressing the practical matters of goals and why you are seeking an MBA at McCombs.

The University of Texas at Austin values unique perspectives and cultivates a collaborative environment of distinct individual contributions. It is the first day of orientation. You are meeting your study group, comprised of five of your classmates from various backgrounds. Please introduce yourself to your new team, highlighting what drives you in your personal and professional life.

Select only onecommunication method that you would like to use for your response.

First, choose from the two options – for the purpose of self-introduction, which medium is the most natural for you? That is the one you should use –both are equally good. Next decision: out of the universe that is you, what to say? I suggest a combination of distinctive professional and non-work points to reflect well-roundedness – points that show the adcom what you’ll “bring to the table.” Another effective approach is to focus on one key event or experience, if that one element bridges your work and non-work spheres. Both communication options require brevity, so focus on the essential.Essay 2.

Based on your post-MBA goals and what drives you in your personal and professional life, why is the Texas MBA the ideal program for you and how do you plan to engage in our community?(500 words max)

Interestingly, this question integrates goals and motivation. I suggest starting the essay with your goals – straightforwardly discussion short and long term goals, with the short term goals more in-depth and detailed. Next, discuss how these goals, along with some personal drivers or characteristics, make the Texas MBA the right program for you. Be specific and thoughtful about how the program aligns with your needs, don’t just reword website copy.

Finally, identify ways you will participate in the McCombs community – discuss a few key, specific clubs, programs, or other resources meaningfully including why they’re of interest, what you hope to gain from them, and what impact you can have.

Optional Essay.

Please provide any additional information you believe is important and/or address any areas of concern that will be beneficial to the Admissions Committee in considering your application (e.g. unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, academic performance, or extenuating personal circumstances). (250 words max)

I encourage you to write the optional essay. Just make sure you are submitting an informative optional essay that complements the required essays and adds to the reader’s knowledge of you and your qualifications. If you do not have “an area of concern to address,” this optional would be a great place to explore a non-professional interest or commitment of yours not addressed in your application. As always, if you have nothing to say, don’t say anything.

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify the essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***

Territory Sales Manager – Heavy Commercial Vehicles Jul ‘2015 to till date
Geography – Chennai, Vellore & Cuddalore
• Increased overall Market share (↑8%) and Sales volume (↑5%) of the region under purview.
• Part of the team that won the award for the Best Area Office for H2 – FY15- 16(out of 11 competing teams)
• Built long term customer relationships with customers and provide customized commercial packages and specialized services to retain them.
• Held additional responsibility as Territory sales manager for Construct in Q4 FY15-16 and surpassed targets by an additional 10% .
• Successfully regained customer confidence and market share in previously 100% competition dominated territories.

Territory Sales Manager – Light Commercial Vehicles Jan ‘2015 to Jun ‘2015
Geography – Chennai & Coimbatore
• Handled a team of 6 Dealerships with a total team size of 23 personnel.
• Launched multiple new products with involvement in their marketing strategies and distribution channels.
• Managed Company’s brand presence through various social media platforms and other forms of communication including email marketing, newspaper ads and local event sponsorship and participation
• Liaison with financiers, body builders and other external stake holders to form a strong eco system around the product.

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. – Aug ’2012 to Jan ‘2015

Assistant Manager Sales – MTrust (Used Truck division) Sep ‘2013 – Jan ‘2015
Geography – South zone, India
• Key responsibility to ensure aftermarket demand and viability of Mahindra trucks which were new to the market at that point of time.
• Conceiving and developing channels for distribution and marketing of Used Trucks
• Increase in dealer service profitability via used truck refurbishment and sale.
• Achieved the highest ever sale of Used trucks in terms of volume – PAN INDIA.
• Establishing strategic alliance with local brokers and second hand vehicle users.
• Increase in new vehicle sales by assisting customers for exchange of their old trucks

Assistant Manager Sales – Heavy commercial vehicles Aug ‘2012 – Aug ‘2013
• Greenfield Project: Help build the first few dealerships and team from scratch for the state of Tamil Nadu.
• Leading the business development team and enhancing their skills levels to take on independent decisions. Negotiating commercial, legal and servicing terms with customers
• Champion for the state for specialized Segments such as Reefers, Ready-mix concrete mixtures, cement bulkers etc.
• Routine activities include effective pipeline management, market Segmentation, Cogitation of competitor activity & Imbibing best sale practices among ground level sales personnel
ACHIEVEMENTS
• Awarded Outperformer of the Year award – for Highest Used Truck Sales by the CEO – Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. Trucks and Bus division.
• Runner up for the Best Q3 project – FY 15-16 from Regional Sales Manager- TATA Motors Ltd.
• Certified by The University of Cambridge in Business English Communication – Level B1.
• Active participant of the NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME, been a part of the “Healthy Youth for Healthy India” program
• Held office as the Chairman of Department of Mechanical Engineering – Coimbatore institute of technology
• Received merit scholarship from The University for securing First Rank in Seventh semester.
• Successfully completed WRITIER’s Workshop in association with THE HINDU – one of India’s leading newspapers.
• Runner up in National level symposium for Marketing AD Creativity – AD Quest.
• Certified AUTOCAD user for 3D modelling.
• Successfully completed Internship in Integral Coach factory – India’s Largest Rail coach manufacturer
• Been a part of Workshop on Robotics and Automotive innovation.

I don’t think reiterating your goals in essay 2 is a must, but if for clarity you choose to do so, you should state your goals succinctly.

Avneet Singh

Great, got you. Thanks a bunch!:)

I’d appreciate if you can help me with a quick check on feasibility of getting into the Texas MBA program?

1) Working as a Risk Advisory Consultant with Ernst & Young, assessing technology risks requirements of various organizations and mitigating such risks by implementing industry standard solutions.
Previously, a software development engineer for Cisco Systems, India, working on feature development for Cisco proprietary operating systems.

4) National Strategy Head for an education non-profit called Becoming I Foundation. (Started as a content coordinator in Oct, 2014)
a) Led a team of 110 to implement 2 projects impacting 600 students in 6 schools, resulting in higher attendance and increased inquisitiveness.
•Project “Discovery” – an activity based learning model to enable curiosity amongst students in low income classrooms.
•Project “Leap” – to include extra-curricular activities in the school curriculum for robust development of students.
b) Created content and communication framework for successful implementation of projects.
c) Accomplished tie-up with “Teach For India” to gain access to their affiliated schools and facilities for enhanced coverage.

5) No significant certifications.

6) Career on fusing education on technology, my two core competencies.
ST Goal – Product Manager of an EdTech Company like Google for Education, AltSchool.
LT Goal – Head the Education practice of a company like IDEO.